I have been looking back at how much Miss Mim and The Dude have grown.

These are Miss Mim. Below are The Dude.

They are the most amazing people. And, soon they will be joined by another little one. Just the thought of that thrills me. My life has taken so many twists and turns, some good some bad. They have made me who I am. Thank you to all the people I love. You are the joys in my life.

I have sadly come to the conclusion that some people feel they have the right to say anything they want to online. I don't always agree with everything I see on the internet, but I try to be respectful. I know this is not news. But today I have hit my limit with disrespectful, rude people. I have given these people chance after chance to just be nice. But, from today forward, if you continue to be rude, unkind or disrespectful to me or anyone who writes on my facebook page, blog or any of my other social networking sites I will no longer be excepting anything you send. I understand you have the right to say what you want in a free society, but not on my pages. I also understand that every once in a while we will disagree. That is fine. I refer to the people who must always correct, or put down everyone. ENOUGH!!!!

This is where I would like to be right now. Somewhere out at sea, enjoying a tropical drink and relaxing. It has been a hard few days. Our house is back to ourselves. But, with memorial services, wakes and funerals it's been busy. We have had house guests too. This week we have two fiber shows to do. Thankfully everything was dyed before our guests arrived. So now there is only the packing up to do. These two shows are "summer camp for knitters". We went last year and did very well. This year with all the new yarns I am hopeful we will do well again. Our yarn/ fiber show season is off to a great start.

A great man is gone.

Yes we have lost another. This time my husbands Uncle George.

His obituary says he was 92 years old. He served in WWII. He was a pilot who flew the China-Burma-India theater. And, he retired as a Lt. Colonel.

It really doesn't tell you much. It doesn't tell you what a joy he was to be around. Or, how he had a clean joke for every occasion.

It doesn't tell you how, when the wife of the leader of China came to the U.S. and spoke at the Univ. of Mich., she asked "Who will save China?" This was at the start of WWII. Uncle George jumped up from his seat to volunteer.

It doesn't say that he was at the Univ. of Mich. on a tennis scholarship and a real party boy for the times.

It doesn't tell you he was part of the famous unit "The Flying Tigers" or that he flew the infamous "Burma Hump".

His obit mentions only a few of the medals he earned. It doesn't tell you what a caring man he was. It doesn't tell you he continued to play tennis well into his 80s.

There is so very much more to this wonderful man's life, I could go on and on.
But, I am just beginning to understand something.

I have had the pleasure and the honor of knowing some amazing people in my life. And if I have learned one thing from this wonderful man it is: To look to the future. It is all well and good to remember the past. But,you can not change it. You can use it to help you build your own future.

A dear dear friend

How do you say goodby to someone who has been your friend for more than 25 years? I guess you start with Thank You.

When I met Eva I was a young mother and she was a Grandmother. I was busy with all the things invoved with day to day life. With making sure my children were fed, clothed and of course polite to adults.

Eva had raised her children and was so relaxed and calm around mine. I couldn't help wondering if she knew something I didn't. And of course she did. She knew so many things I did not.

Eva knew that with age come wisdom. She also knew that things can be replaced, people can not.

She showed me that cancer is not a death sentence even if it is scary. She showed me that cancer can come back and you can get through that too. She also taught me that I can be too helpful. (Something I am still working on)

She taught me that people can still be friends even if they haven't spoken in years.

Eva taught me how to grandparent. She "adopted" my children because her's were so far away. She had time for my
children even when their own grandparents did not. She showed me that "right now" is the only time that there is for a small child. And that a hug from "Grandma Eva " was the best!

She was loved by everyone who knew her. Her quiet strenght inspired many people.

Today I heard Eva passed away. I haven't spoken to her in a couple of years. For that I am really sorry. I will miss you dear friend. May you rest in peace.

I will think of you every time I light Shabat candles. Because that is how we met, in a room filled with Shabat candles.

Passover is here

I am up to my eyeballs in Passover prep. I know many of you don't know what that means. Basically it means everything in the house must be cleaned.I mean everything! This goes beyond normal spring cleaning. The entire house must be made free of anything that has a leaving agent.Every nook and cranny cleaned. Nothing that has any potential of having flour for example. If a particle of dust can be there it must be cleaned. The entire kitchen has to be cleaned from ceiling to floorboards. Dishes need to be changed.(Kosher for passover) Shelves cleaned and paper changed.Food must be thrown out or sold so there is nothing that has ever come in contact with a leaving agent in in the kitchen. It is a real complete change over. Add to that cooking of food for two Seders needs to be done.

Since the Seders are not at my house I don't have to do all the cooking. Both of our daughters do their share. One daughter is hosting both Seders and it really makes things easier. I am making two sponge cakes, a chocolate dessert, Matza balls for 35 people (I think) Gifilta fish for the same number. I also get to do the potatoes for one night. And lets not forget the Seder Plate, my job as well.

Everything else is being made by our daughters. So lets take a look at a menu.

Hard boiled eggs
Chopped liver and mock chopped liver
Gifilta Fish
Chicken soup with matza balls
Turkey (1st night) Prime Rib (2nd night)
vegetable
potatoes
dessert

It's a five course dinner and we do it for two nights. It's a lot to do. Passover is only a week. But by the end I am so ready for pasta and bread I can't stand it.

So, Happy Passover everyone. The first Seder is tomorrow night. I still have lots to do. Hubby is helpful and that is a major plus. Off to cooking I go. ;)

There is big news brewing around here. I can't tell you yet, but it's big.


The Dude has come a long way with his speech. He is now using 3 and 4 word sentences.
That is awesome. Every day he has new words. He also doesn't sign as much now that he has words. He is a total manipulator though. Today he went to help himself to a fifth cookie. He decided that he could get away with it if he brought one for me too. (It worked)

Miss Mim now hears everything you say and then repeats it back or asks questions about what you said. I called something a "Monster Problem" and she wanted to know what that meant. I explained it to her. I am so glad I didn't say something else. Yhey are growing up so fast.

I am really enjoying being a grandparent. I am so luck they live close by and I get to see them so often.